What it took to get an 8th grade education in 1895...
Remember when grandparents and great-grandparents stated that they only had an 8th grade education? Well, check this out.. Could any of us have passed the 8th grade in 1895?
This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 in Salina , Kansas , USA . It was taken from the original document on file at the Smokey Valley Genealogical Society
and Library in Salina , and reprinted by the Salina Journal.
8th Grade Final Exam:
Salina, KS - 1895
Grammar (Time, one hour)
1. Give nine rules for the use of capital letters.
2. Name the parts of speech and define those that have no modifications.
3. Define verse, stanza and paragraph
4. What are the principal parts of a verb? Give principal parts of 'lie,''play,' and 'run.'
5. Define case; illustrate each case.
6 What is punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of punctuation.
7 - 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.
Arithmetic (Time,1 hour 15 minutes)
1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.
2.. A wagon box is 2 ft. Deep, 10 feet long, and 3 ft. Wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?
3. If a load of wheat weighs 3,942 lbs., what is it worth at 50cts/bushel, deducting 1,050 lbs. For tare?
4. District No 33 has a valuation of $35,000.. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?
5. Find the cost of 6,720 lbs. Coal at $6.00 per ton.
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft.. Long at $20 per metre?
8. Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance of which is 640 rods?
10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt
U..S. History (Time, 45 minutes)
1. Give the epochs into which U.S. History is divided
2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
4. Show the territorial growth of the United States
5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas
6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion.
7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton , Bell , Lincoln , Penn, and Howe?
8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849, 1865.
Orthography (Time, one hour)
[Do we even know what this is??]
1. What is meant by the following: alphabet, phonetic, orthography, etymology, syllabication
2. What are elementary sounds? How classified?
3. What are the following, and give examples of each: trigraph, subvocals, diphthong, cognate letters, linguals
4. Give four substitutes for caret 'u.' (HUH?)
5. Give two rules for spelling words with final 'e.' Name two exceptions under each rule.
6. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each.
7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: bi, dis-mis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono, sup..
8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name the sign that indicates the sound: card, ball, mercy, sir, odd, cell, rise, blood, fare, last.
9. Use the following correctly in sentences: cite, site, sight, fane, fain, feign, vane , vain, vein, raze, raise, rays..
10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by use of diacritical marks
and by syllabication.
Geography (Time, one hour)
1 What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?
2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas ?
3. Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?
4. Describe the mountains of North America
5. Name and describe the following: Monrovia , Odessa , Denver , Manitoba , Hecla , Yukon , St. Helena, Juan Fernandez, Aspinwall and Orinoco
6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S. Name all the republics of Europe and give the capital of each..
8. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude?
9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.
10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give the inclination of the earth.
Notice that the exam took FIVE HOURS to complete.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Public Education in America
By Elizabeth Szlek, LMHC
My uncle sends me stuff on e-mail regularly. Because he is a Navy Chief, ret., you can probably figure out his stance on things. Let’s just put it this way: He’s not a Democrat, and is VERY patriotic. Now, you might say, can’t a Democrat be patriotic?
At bottom, no. Because the Democratic party has been co-opted by the liberal agenda. If you like, you can substitute the word “socialist”, or “fascist”, or even “communist” for the word ‘liberal’ This is only if you are aware of the development of these three branches of what could be called “Progressivism”. Progressivism is opposed to nationalism, which is the basis for patriotism. So, no, you can’t be progressive and patriotic, if you are going to be intellectually consistent. I am sure many would disagree, but I would love to debate it with whomever....
Anyway, the gem Uncle Alex just sent me was a copy of the Eighth Grade Final Exam from Salinas, KS, dated 1985. Most of you know that in 1895, a very large portion of the population would have ended their formal education.
All I can say is, after looking at that exam, what a grand and wonderful education it was! Someone had written above it, “Most teachers with a Master’s degree would fail it!” I’m not too sure how I would have done, either.
Here is a sampling of some of the questions, drawn from the five topics of Grammar, U.S. History, Orthography (do most of us even know what that means?), Arithmetic, and Geography. Check these little tidbits out!
1. Define verse, stanza and paragraph.
2. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 feet long at $20 per meter? (Yes, meters, not feet!)
3. Show the territorial growth of the United States.
4. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: bi-, dis-, mis-,pre-,semi-, post-, non-, inter-, mono-, sup-.
5. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.
6. Name and describe the following: Monrovia, Odessa, Denver, Manitoba, Hecla, Yukon, St. Helena, Juan Fernandez, Aspinwall, Orinoco.
This exam took five hours to complete, and I can say that if anyone could pass it, they would be ready for life in any state as a full adult. So much for the good old days. I will post this on my blog so that anyone of you can take a better look at the standards which used to guide our schools.
Is There Something Wrong With Our Schools?
Some of you may believe that our schools are in good shape right now, and that educational excellence prevails throughout our land. Unfortunately, the opposite is true, and most can agree that our schools are not doing a good job of creating educated adults.
So, imagine my surprise when I followed a link from one of the listserves I get daily to this: The Tea Party Education Manifesto. This document was written by Bruce Deitrick Price, who has a website entitled, improve-education.org. I had never heard of him, but I think most of you will be very pleased to read his eight ideas on how to improve our American education system. Here are his ideas, with my comments in parentheses:
1. Encourage and strengthen charter schools, vouchers, homeschooling and all types of private schools, because diversity and competition is a sure way to have improvement. (Sounds good, and this way not all of our children will be force fed the same liberal ideology and political correctness. There is the possibility that the most gifted will somehow escape the dumbing down effect of our present educational system.)
2. Support fast-track alternative credentialing. If smart, educated people want to leave other fields, all they really need is a couple of months of classroom training. (Amen! I have taught at the university level, and there were no classes on how to teach. If you know something, and you have the gift, you are a teacher. If you don’t have the gift, no amount of training will help.)
3. All teachers must major in the subjects they teach. ( Duh! Mastery of a topic is essential before one can teach it. Case closed. This is not always the case in our schools today.)
4. Make schools safe and secure. (He goes on to state that if someone has a pill in their purse, it is far less dangerous than someone coming to school with a gun).
5. Teachers must not be required to join a union. The power of the National Education Association (NEA) is an obstacle to reform. (The fact is, the NEA is the most powerful union in America, and it has far too much control over the teachers it is supposed to be representing.)
6. Repeal, rescind or scale back Race to the Top. (Like No Child Left Behind, these large-scale top down educational are not necessary, and they really get in the way of a teacher teaching the way he or she wants to.)
7. Cut the Department of Education by half, then do it again. This thing should never have been created [it was a payback from the Democrats to the NEA]. Similarly, cut in half the role of schools of education. These places take two years to impart two months worth of information. ( In other words, it would be better to take new teachers who are talented in their area of expertise, rather than take teachers who have just been learning to “teach”.
8. (This is my absolute favorite!) Try to dismantle all the sophistries and gimmicks introduced by progressive educators in the last 100 years (since Thomas A. Dewey took over the direction of American education, and after the 1895 Eighth Grade test seen above), for example Sight-Words, New Math/Reform Math, Constructivism, Self-Esteem, Multiculturalism, Fuzziness of any kind, Group Learning, etc. Instead, there must be a renewed emphasis on foundational knowledge and basic skills, with mastery of both (Say, for example, in the 1895 Kansas schools).
Mr. Price suggests that even if four of these eight suggestions were to be implemented, we would see vast improvements in our American educational systems. We can only hope!
Elizabeth Szlek is the Director of The Door Counseling Center of Utica, NY. Questions and comments can be directed to her at (315) 768-8900 or at info@thedoorcounseling.com.
My uncle sends me stuff on e-mail regularly. Because he is a Navy Chief, ret., you can probably figure out his stance on things. Let’s just put it this way: He’s not a Democrat, and is VERY patriotic. Now, you might say, can’t a Democrat be patriotic?
At bottom, no. Because the Democratic party has been co-opted by the liberal agenda. If you like, you can substitute the word “socialist”, or “fascist”, or even “communist” for the word ‘liberal’ This is only if you are aware of the development of these three branches of what could be called “Progressivism”. Progressivism is opposed to nationalism, which is the basis for patriotism. So, no, you can’t be progressive and patriotic, if you are going to be intellectually consistent. I am sure many would disagree, but I would love to debate it with whomever....
Anyway, the gem Uncle Alex just sent me was a copy of the Eighth Grade Final Exam from Salinas, KS, dated 1985. Most of you know that in 1895, a very large portion of the population would have ended their formal education.
All I can say is, after looking at that exam, what a grand and wonderful education it was! Someone had written above it, “Most teachers with a Master’s degree would fail it!” I’m not too sure how I would have done, either.
Here is a sampling of some of the questions, drawn from the five topics of Grammar, U.S. History, Orthography (do most of us even know what that means?), Arithmetic, and Geography. Check these little tidbits out!
1. Define verse, stanza and paragraph.
2. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 feet long at $20 per meter? (Yes, meters, not feet!)
3. Show the territorial growth of the United States.
4. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: bi-, dis-, mis-,pre-,semi-, post-, non-, inter-, mono-, sup-.
5. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.
6. Name and describe the following: Monrovia, Odessa, Denver, Manitoba, Hecla, Yukon, St. Helena, Juan Fernandez, Aspinwall, Orinoco.
This exam took five hours to complete, and I can say that if anyone could pass it, they would be ready for life in any state as a full adult. So much for the good old days. I will post this on my blog so that anyone of you can take a better look at the standards which used to guide our schools.
Is There Something Wrong With Our Schools?
Some of you may believe that our schools are in good shape right now, and that educational excellence prevails throughout our land. Unfortunately, the opposite is true, and most can agree that our schools are not doing a good job of creating educated adults.
So, imagine my surprise when I followed a link from one of the listserves I get daily to this: The Tea Party Education Manifesto. This document was written by Bruce Deitrick Price, who has a website entitled, improve-education.org. I had never heard of him, but I think most of you will be very pleased to read his eight ideas on how to improve our American education system. Here are his ideas, with my comments in parentheses:
1. Encourage and strengthen charter schools, vouchers, homeschooling and all types of private schools, because diversity and competition is a sure way to have improvement. (Sounds good, and this way not all of our children will be force fed the same liberal ideology and political correctness. There is the possibility that the most gifted will somehow escape the dumbing down effect of our present educational system.)
2. Support fast-track alternative credentialing. If smart, educated people want to leave other fields, all they really need is a couple of months of classroom training. (Amen! I have taught at the university level, and there were no classes on how to teach. If you know something, and you have the gift, you are a teacher. If you don’t have the gift, no amount of training will help.)
3. All teachers must major in the subjects they teach. ( Duh! Mastery of a topic is essential before one can teach it. Case closed. This is not always the case in our schools today.)
4. Make schools safe and secure. (He goes on to state that if someone has a pill in their purse, it is far less dangerous than someone coming to school with a gun).
5. Teachers must not be required to join a union. The power of the National Education Association (NEA) is an obstacle to reform. (The fact is, the NEA is the most powerful union in America, and it has far too much control over the teachers it is supposed to be representing.)
6. Repeal, rescind or scale back Race to the Top. (Like No Child Left Behind, these large-scale top down educational are not necessary, and they really get in the way of a teacher teaching the way he or she wants to.)
7. Cut the Department of Education by half, then do it again. This thing should never have been created [it was a payback from the Democrats to the NEA]. Similarly, cut in half the role of schools of education. These places take two years to impart two months worth of information. ( In other words, it would be better to take new teachers who are talented in their area of expertise, rather than take teachers who have just been learning to “teach”.
8. (This is my absolute favorite!) Try to dismantle all the sophistries and gimmicks introduced by progressive educators in the last 100 years (since Thomas A. Dewey took over the direction of American education, and after the 1895 Eighth Grade test seen above), for example Sight-Words, New Math/Reform Math, Constructivism, Self-Esteem, Multiculturalism, Fuzziness of any kind, Group Learning, etc. Instead, there must be a renewed emphasis on foundational knowledge and basic skills, with mastery of both (Say, for example, in the 1895 Kansas schools).
Mr. Price suggests that even if four of these eight suggestions were to be implemented, we would see vast improvements in our American educational systems. We can only hope!
Elizabeth Szlek is the Director of The Door Counseling Center of Utica, NY. Questions and comments can be directed to her at (315) 768-8900 or at info@thedoorcounseling.com.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
The Government Has No Money!
The Government Has No Money!
By Elizabeth Szlek
For The Rome Observer: October 19, 2010
Like you all, I have been watching numberless political ads these days on television. They roll in like waves, one after the other. The “bad” guys have dark circles under their eyes, or have a heavy five o’clock shadow, like Nixon. The “good guys” are seen clutching their beautiful babies, or dressed in jeans to show how “earthy” and humble they are. Throw a cow or two in, and the candidate looks like a saint, almost.
This is just “normal” media manipulation of images. I would like to quote one of my favorite movies on this one: “As if!”
I am sure some of you have studied these kinds of tactics, and can see through most of it. I really don’t want my re presentative or governor wearing jeans when they discharge their duties in Albany or Washington. And bringing a milk cow into these legislative offices would be just unseemly.
But all this stuff doesn’t really bother me that much. I just have to laugh.
No, what really bothers me is what these clowns, excuse me, candidates, are saying to us. That which they hope and pray we will trust and believe.
Where Does Federal and State Money Come From?
This would appear to be a no-brainer, and yet millions of my fellow Americans obviously think differently on this topic than I. Where DOES the money that these candidates are talking about spending really come from? I’ll give you a hint: It’s really close to you right now. Really close.
Answer: It is going to come out of YOUR pocket. Now, the less gifted among you will say that the government prints the money, so they really don’t take it out of our pockets, but that is just specious!
The federal government, if we start there, has no money of its own. It is the instrument of the will of the people, through their representatives, one hopes. When an elected official, or a candidate for office starts spouting off about “creating jobs”, and funding this or that program, the bottom line in all of your minds should be: This is on my dime.
How does the government, any government in America, from the federal to the town level, get its money? It takes the money away from those who work and own property, or those who travel and pay customs and duty on goods. Tariffs are largely a thing of the past, so foreign businesses are much less on the hook than previously.
No, for the most part, you and I, the taxpayers, the property owners, the business owners are picking up all the tabs. When I hear Democrats saying they are going to be bringing in lots of entitlement programs, I cringe. My bills for them will be going up.
What do Democrats and Republicans Say?
When I hear Democrats telling me they are cutting taxes, I get confused, since entitlement programs they are so keen on, like health care, are going to be paid for through reaching into my pocket. Huh? You are going to spend trillions and I am off the hook? How can it be? Well, very simply, it can’t. Old Uncle Sam will have to reach in even deeper for those entitlements, so just buck up and take it!
Let’s consider what our Republican candidates are saying: I will create many new jobs, and will cut spending and bring in tax cuts! But, how can government “create” new jobs without spending any government money? It is impossible! And, if you do that, won’t my taxes go up? Yes, they will. That’s what the bailout was all about: Creating millions of new jobs and cutting taxes at the same time. A sleight of hand? No, just twisted factoids, delivered to sway the minds of those who either need jobs, or need tax cuts. Sort of like a miracle, except it isn’t real, but campaign fantasy.
Republicans are creating jobs AND cutting taxes, and Democrats are creating jobs AND cutting taxes. Something for everyone, so I guess it boils down to which candidate warms the cockles of your hearts more, or who looks better milking a cow. Come to think of it, the milking scenario could actually be a coded reference to what they are really up to: Milking the taxpayers!
I have an excellent credit rating. People would love to give me all kinds of money. I don’t take it, however, because it really bothers me to be in debt. Aren’t there other Americans out there who look at our mounting debt and shudder?
By the way, if 40 or so millions of Americans do not have health insurance, and suddenly it will be available to them, who do you think is going to pay for it? You. Even if you have your own health insurance, you are now going to pick up part of the tab for 40 million more people. As old Marx said, “Each according to his ability, each according to his need.” You may have the ability to pay for more people’s health insurance, so pony up! You may have the need to get some, so sit back and wait for me to kick in for you! Well, kick in isn’t really the deal: Old Uncle Sam will decide to help himself and just put his hand in my pocket. If this is not socialism or communism, I would really like someone to explain why not. Didn’t we once seek out communists to stop them from perverting our freedoms? I guess the folks in government missed that memo.
I have often said that I don’t like fantasy in any form. I don’t like fantasy movies, or books, or games. My life is devoted to helping others come into reality, understand reality and most importantly, deal with reality. So, when it comes to politics and political campaigns, I mostly notice what is fantasy about them. I don’t know if any of you are also recognizing the fantastic nature of the current political ads, but here is what I would like to hear from someone:
“We have spent your money over the years, like a bunch of drunken sailors. The time has come to get into reality. We have to cut programs, especially entitlement programs, to preserve our country (town, state) as a free republic. If you yourself are a careful spender, and don’t go into debt without serious thinking, you will appreciate what I am trying to do: Get us out of debt. We have to tighten our belts and give up some of the fantasy programs which we cannot afford. Vote for me if you are living in reality, and not some fantasy-land of unlimited credit spending. Thank you.”
Would anyone vote for such a person? Anyone besides me?
Elizabeth Szlek is the Director of The Door Counseling Center of Utica, NY, Questions and comments can be directed to her at (315) 768-8900 or at info@thedoorcounseling.com.
By Elizabeth Szlek
For The Rome Observer: October 19, 2010
Like you all, I have been watching numberless political ads these days on television. They roll in like waves, one after the other. The “bad” guys have dark circles under their eyes, or have a heavy five o’clock shadow, like Nixon. The “good guys” are seen clutching their beautiful babies, or dressed in jeans to show how “earthy” and humble they are. Throw a cow or two in, and the candidate looks like a saint, almost.
This is just “normal” media manipulation of images. I would like to quote one of my favorite movies on this one: “As if!”
I am sure some of you have studied these kinds of tactics, and can see through most of it. I really don’t want my re presentative or governor wearing jeans when they discharge their duties in Albany or Washington. And bringing a milk cow into these legislative offices would be just unseemly.
But all this stuff doesn’t really bother me that much. I just have to laugh.
No, what really bothers me is what these clowns, excuse me, candidates, are saying to us. That which they hope and pray we will trust and believe.
Where Does Federal and State Money Come From?
This would appear to be a no-brainer, and yet millions of my fellow Americans obviously think differently on this topic than I. Where DOES the money that these candidates are talking about spending really come from? I’ll give you a hint: It’s really close to you right now. Really close.
Answer: It is going to come out of YOUR pocket. Now, the less gifted among you will say that the government prints the money, so they really don’t take it out of our pockets, but that is just specious!
The federal government, if we start there, has no money of its own. It is the instrument of the will of the people, through their representatives, one hopes. When an elected official, or a candidate for office starts spouting off about “creating jobs”, and funding this or that program, the bottom line in all of your minds should be: This is on my dime.
How does the government, any government in America, from the federal to the town level, get its money? It takes the money away from those who work and own property, or those who travel and pay customs and duty on goods. Tariffs are largely a thing of the past, so foreign businesses are much less on the hook than previously.
No, for the most part, you and I, the taxpayers, the property owners, the business owners are picking up all the tabs. When I hear Democrats saying they are going to be bringing in lots of entitlement programs, I cringe. My bills for them will be going up.
What do Democrats and Republicans Say?
When I hear Democrats telling me they are cutting taxes, I get confused, since entitlement programs they are so keen on, like health care, are going to be paid for through reaching into my pocket. Huh? You are going to spend trillions and I am off the hook? How can it be? Well, very simply, it can’t. Old Uncle Sam will have to reach in even deeper for those entitlements, so just buck up and take it!
Let’s consider what our Republican candidates are saying: I will create many new jobs, and will cut spending and bring in tax cuts! But, how can government “create” new jobs without spending any government money? It is impossible! And, if you do that, won’t my taxes go up? Yes, they will. That’s what the bailout was all about: Creating millions of new jobs and cutting taxes at the same time. A sleight of hand? No, just twisted factoids, delivered to sway the minds of those who either need jobs, or need tax cuts. Sort of like a miracle, except it isn’t real, but campaign fantasy.
Republicans are creating jobs AND cutting taxes, and Democrats are creating jobs AND cutting taxes. Something for everyone, so I guess it boils down to which candidate warms the cockles of your hearts more, or who looks better milking a cow. Come to think of it, the milking scenario could actually be a coded reference to what they are really up to: Milking the taxpayers!
I have an excellent credit rating. People would love to give me all kinds of money. I don’t take it, however, because it really bothers me to be in debt. Aren’t there other Americans out there who look at our mounting debt and shudder?
By the way, if 40 or so millions of Americans do not have health insurance, and suddenly it will be available to them, who do you think is going to pay for it? You. Even if you have your own health insurance, you are now going to pick up part of the tab for 40 million more people. As old Marx said, “Each according to his ability, each according to his need.” You may have the ability to pay for more people’s health insurance, so pony up! You may have the need to get some, so sit back and wait for me to kick in for you! Well, kick in isn’t really the deal: Old Uncle Sam will decide to help himself and just put his hand in my pocket. If this is not socialism or communism, I would really like someone to explain why not. Didn’t we once seek out communists to stop them from perverting our freedoms? I guess the folks in government missed that memo.
I have often said that I don’t like fantasy in any form. I don’t like fantasy movies, or books, or games. My life is devoted to helping others come into reality, understand reality and most importantly, deal with reality. So, when it comes to politics and political campaigns, I mostly notice what is fantasy about them. I don’t know if any of you are also recognizing the fantastic nature of the current political ads, but here is what I would like to hear from someone:
“We have spent your money over the years, like a bunch of drunken sailors. The time has come to get into reality. We have to cut programs, especially entitlement programs, to preserve our country (town, state) as a free republic. If you yourself are a careful spender, and don’t go into debt without serious thinking, you will appreciate what I am trying to do: Get us out of debt. We have to tighten our belts and give up some of the fantasy programs which we cannot afford. Vote for me if you are living in reality, and not some fantasy-land of unlimited credit spending. Thank you.”
Would anyone vote for such a person? Anyone besides me?
Elizabeth Szlek is the Director of The Door Counseling Center of Utica, NY, Questions and comments can be directed to her at (315) 768-8900 or at info@thedoorcounseling.com.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Socialism and Freedom: The Coming Elections
By Elizabeth Szlek, LMHC
For The Rome Observer: October 12, 2010
This column was inspired by a quote from an article in The New Yorker, in a review of a book by Isabel Wilkerson. In describing how she decided to structure her book, she decided to avoid the “Chicago School sociology view” of literature, which was “always about the collective (if you just talk to enough people, take enough photographs, conduct enough surveys, you could, finally, record what it meant to be human”. This style, which developed in the nineteen-thirties, stands in opposition to the newer narrative journalism of the nineteen-sixties (if you could just find the right person to talk to, you could write the story of everyone). I say this: Both approaches are wrong, because the whole world resides in each of us, and there is no way to capture all of that reality either through crowds, or through the life of one person. We are all totally unique.
I have written before about my abhorrence of statistics in the field of mental health and/or psychology. Comparing two people or more for traits, or beliefs, or any other factor is silly, at best, and utterly damaging at worst. I know that at these election times, we are coerced into thinking along these lines continually, and for me, it is highly upsetting. I don’t know about you, but I have been getting lots of calls for polling information, and it always makes me very uneasy when I given a forced choice, and I don’t like either of the options. We get forced into “camps”, pro and con.
“Would you vote for Bob Brown, or Sally Black if you had to vote today?” runs a typical question. This time around, in particular, it seems no choice is good. I really don’t like anybody for any reason, or for many reasons!
I also don’t want to be lumped into a category of “angry voter” if I don’t like these choices. I’m not particularly angry, but I am saddened by the mess that our legislators have created at every level of government. What were they thinking?
Am I An Angry Voter?
On the local level we see story after story of towns’ reserve funds being used up, and then the inevitable “Oh-Oh!” moment when they discover their till is empty. In Albany, we find such chaos that to even contemplate change is impossible, and at the federal level, well, who knows what they are really up to there.
My question is: What kind of country are we trying to create? Is it a socialistic place where everyone has all needs met by our vast and every increasing bureaucracy? We know full well that this bureaucracy is not acting in the interests of the little guy, but that it is highly influenced, if not controlled, by corporate and business interest. The Eisenhower-named “military-industrial complex” is here. I would amend that title to “military-industrial-chemical complex”, to include those who tamper with our food, our water supply and our minds with an assortment of chemical products.
So, for me, who is opposed to socialism in all forms, the choice does not stand out as “vote Republican!”, because I have studied the history of the Republican Party, and it has, since the latter part of the nineteenth century, represented the interests of big business, and the vast complex of powerful entities named above. Just read about how the railroads almost took over the federal government at the height of their powers, and you will shrink from thinking that the GOP is looking out for little old you.
In past years I lived in a country under socialism, and I can tell you that it is not something you really want to consider. People and their individual lives are not all that important. The state is the thing, not the individual. An artist friend of mine considered long and hard, because he wanted to do a performance piece and this included painting a red star on the sole of his shoe and displaying it to the audience. At the end, he decided it was “too risky”, and he didn’t do it. That is life under socialism.
Here is America, there are many issues, such as health care, which seem to need fixing. I am not sure that the state taking over is the best thing for us. I had a root canal in a socialist country – without any Novocain, because there was none available. Ouch, is all I can say!
So, for someone who believes what the Bible says, that everyone is most content in their own little yard, sitting under their grapevine, it is hard for me to look to the Democrats, because they are pushing more and more socialistic ideas. And, at the end, they are in just as deep with the moneyed class who actually decide things. The Democrats throw a few bones to “the people” and seem to want to help the little guy, but what ends up happening is a socialistic push to corral us all into their programs, such as Head Start, the use of school-based clinics, the abyss of public education, more and more stupid entitlement programs to please those who make full use of them, such as the various bogus “disability” pensions for everything from alcoholism to bi-polar disorder.
What About Freedom?
Freedom for me is the freedom to go out and make my own life. It is not freedom to sit home and pretend to need to be taken care of by Big Brother. Just get out of my way and pretty much, leave me alone. I fear, more than anything, that we have given up too much freedom, and succumbed to socialism with a “kind” face, a socialism that forbids us to smoke, makes us wear seatbelts, forbids us to swim unless a lifeguard is watching, and thousands of other annoying rules. Hey, if we don’t want to wear helmets when biking, what business is it of the government? If I choose to drink milk that is not “assassinated” (according to the French) by pasteurization, why does the government care?
So, the choice, in November, lose even more personal freedom, promote the entitlement and dependency that leads to slavery, choose to support those who only have their own bottom line in view, or try to find a way to return to a path of freedom for the individual. I don’t know – it seems like a long shot, but it’s all we have right now. Good luck in choosing your options!
Elizabeth Szlek is the Director of The Door Counseling Center of Utica, NY. Questions and comments can be directed to her at (315) 768-8900 or at info@thedoorcounseling.com.
For The Rome Observer: October 12, 2010
This column was inspired by a quote from an article in The New Yorker, in a review of a book by Isabel Wilkerson. In describing how she decided to structure her book, she decided to avoid the “Chicago School sociology view” of literature, which was “always about the collective (if you just talk to enough people, take enough photographs, conduct enough surveys, you could, finally, record what it meant to be human”. This style, which developed in the nineteen-thirties, stands in opposition to the newer narrative journalism of the nineteen-sixties (if you could just find the right person to talk to, you could write the story of everyone). I say this: Both approaches are wrong, because the whole world resides in each of us, and there is no way to capture all of that reality either through crowds, or through the life of one person. We are all totally unique.
I have written before about my abhorrence of statistics in the field of mental health and/or psychology. Comparing two people or more for traits, or beliefs, or any other factor is silly, at best, and utterly damaging at worst. I know that at these election times, we are coerced into thinking along these lines continually, and for me, it is highly upsetting. I don’t know about you, but I have been getting lots of calls for polling information, and it always makes me very uneasy when I given a forced choice, and I don’t like either of the options. We get forced into “camps”, pro and con.
“Would you vote for Bob Brown, or Sally Black if you had to vote today?” runs a typical question. This time around, in particular, it seems no choice is good. I really don’t like anybody for any reason, or for many reasons!
I also don’t want to be lumped into a category of “angry voter” if I don’t like these choices. I’m not particularly angry, but I am saddened by the mess that our legislators have created at every level of government. What were they thinking?
Am I An Angry Voter?
On the local level we see story after story of towns’ reserve funds being used up, and then the inevitable “Oh-Oh!” moment when they discover their till is empty. In Albany, we find such chaos that to even contemplate change is impossible, and at the federal level, well, who knows what they are really up to there.
My question is: What kind of country are we trying to create? Is it a socialistic place where everyone has all needs met by our vast and every increasing bureaucracy? We know full well that this bureaucracy is not acting in the interests of the little guy, but that it is highly influenced, if not controlled, by corporate and business interest. The Eisenhower-named “military-industrial complex” is here. I would amend that title to “military-industrial-chemical complex”, to include those who tamper with our food, our water supply and our minds with an assortment of chemical products.
So, for me, who is opposed to socialism in all forms, the choice does not stand out as “vote Republican!”, because I have studied the history of the Republican Party, and it has, since the latter part of the nineteenth century, represented the interests of big business, and the vast complex of powerful entities named above. Just read about how the railroads almost took over the federal government at the height of their powers, and you will shrink from thinking that the GOP is looking out for little old you.
In past years I lived in a country under socialism, and I can tell you that it is not something you really want to consider. People and their individual lives are not all that important. The state is the thing, not the individual. An artist friend of mine considered long and hard, because he wanted to do a performance piece and this included painting a red star on the sole of his shoe and displaying it to the audience. At the end, he decided it was “too risky”, and he didn’t do it. That is life under socialism.
Here is America, there are many issues, such as health care, which seem to need fixing. I am not sure that the state taking over is the best thing for us. I had a root canal in a socialist country – without any Novocain, because there was none available. Ouch, is all I can say!
So, for someone who believes what the Bible says, that everyone is most content in their own little yard, sitting under their grapevine, it is hard for me to look to the Democrats, because they are pushing more and more socialistic ideas. And, at the end, they are in just as deep with the moneyed class who actually decide things. The Democrats throw a few bones to “the people” and seem to want to help the little guy, but what ends up happening is a socialistic push to corral us all into their programs, such as Head Start, the use of school-based clinics, the abyss of public education, more and more stupid entitlement programs to please those who make full use of them, such as the various bogus “disability” pensions for everything from alcoholism to bi-polar disorder.
What About Freedom?
Freedom for me is the freedom to go out and make my own life. It is not freedom to sit home and pretend to need to be taken care of by Big Brother. Just get out of my way and pretty much, leave me alone. I fear, more than anything, that we have given up too much freedom, and succumbed to socialism with a “kind” face, a socialism that forbids us to smoke, makes us wear seatbelts, forbids us to swim unless a lifeguard is watching, and thousands of other annoying rules. Hey, if we don’t want to wear helmets when biking, what business is it of the government? If I choose to drink milk that is not “assassinated” (according to the French) by pasteurization, why does the government care?
So, the choice, in November, lose even more personal freedom, promote the entitlement and dependency that leads to slavery, choose to support those who only have their own bottom line in view, or try to find a way to return to a path of freedom for the individual. I don’t know – it seems like a long shot, but it’s all we have right now. Good luck in choosing your options!
Elizabeth Szlek is the Director of The Door Counseling Center of Utica, NY. Questions and comments can be directed to her at (315) 768-8900 or at info@thedoorcounseling.com.
Monday, October 4, 2010
What is Mental Health?
What is Mental Health?
By Elizabeth Szlek, Licensed Mental Health Counselor
There is much talk in the news about mental illness and everyone seems to understand what that is all about. As you read my columns in this paper, you and I will be looking at the present state of the mental health care in America, and together we will decide what is true and what is false. I guess you can already tell that I may have my doubts about a lot of what is going on…
However, as to the question of “What is mental health”?”, I am ready to go on record with some very clearly thought out ideas. I have a very solid idea of what mental health looks like, how to achieve it, and how to tell if someone is mentally healthy or not. For me, it all comes down to relationships.
The Four Relationships
I believe that for a person to be mentally healthy, they need to have four different kinds of good relationships. If these are in order, it is almost assured that the person will be able to function well in society, and will enjoy great peace of mind and peace. If, on the other hand, any of these relationships are in trouble or even missing, there will be less to be happy about. This will lead to mental distress and sometimes the person will become overwhelmed by life. So, what are these four types of relationships.?
The first relationship we must consider is the one we have with ourselves. This might seem like an odd thing to think about, but the truth is, many people are taught by those around them to think poorly of themselves. They are shamed and criticized, and, in a word, not loved enough. I spend a lot of time telling people they are wonderful, because – they are!
Family and Friends
Of course, no man is an island, and we all need to have good, loving relationships with our families, and with friends. Some people are lucky, and their parents loved them, disciplined them and taught them to value the things that endure. Others were not so lucky. They have trouble trusting others, since they have been so hurt. Perhaps they can even say they have no friends. This is indeed a troubling situation, and one which needs to be addressed.
Relationship with Community
Since we no longer live in a tribal society, but are part of a democratic country, we all need to be involved in something bigger than our family. We benefit from joining organizations which match our interests, whether that be a church, political party, sports group, a volunteer organization, or any other worthwhile group. Working and playing together, we form bonds of friendship with others, increase our feelings of competency and generosity, and we feel included.
Relationship with our Higher Power
I believe humans have a very real need for a connection to something greater than ourselves. This power is usually described as God, but some people have been hurt in their relationships to religious organizations, so we will use the more neutral term, Higher Power. This is somewhat mysterious to those who do not think about this type of relationship, but I think it is a necessary part of development of one’s greatest gifts.
A Final Word
This is my basic view of mental health. It’s all about how we are connecting to ourselves, to a Higher Power, to friends and family, and to the larger world around us. Sometimes it seems very difficult to manage all these facets of relationship well, but I will be discussing all four aspects of this struggle in my future columns. I certainly welcome your feedback and comments and questions. Let’s have some fun!
Elizabeth Szlek is the Director of The Door Counseling Center of Utica. Questions and comments can be directed to her at (315) 768-8900, or at info@thedoorcounseling.com
By Elizabeth Szlek, Licensed Mental Health Counselor
There is much talk in the news about mental illness and everyone seems to understand what that is all about. As you read my columns in this paper, you and I will be looking at the present state of the mental health care in America, and together we will decide what is true and what is false. I guess you can already tell that I may have my doubts about a lot of what is going on…
However, as to the question of “What is mental health”?”, I am ready to go on record with some very clearly thought out ideas. I have a very solid idea of what mental health looks like, how to achieve it, and how to tell if someone is mentally healthy or not. For me, it all comes down to relationships.
The Four Relationships
I believe that for a person to be mentally healthy, they need to have four different kinds of good relationships. If these are in order, it is almost assured that the person will be able to function well in society, and will enjoy great peace of mind and peace. If, on the other hand, any of these relationships are in trouble or even missing, there will be less to be happy about. This will lead to mental distress and sometimes the person will become overwhelmed by life. So, what are these four types of relationships.?
The first relationship we must consider is the one we have with ourselves. This might seem like an odd thing to think about, but the truth is, many people are taught by those around them to think poorly of themselves. They are shamed and criticized, and, in a word, not loved enough. I spend a lot of time telling people they are wonderful, because – they are!
Family and Friends
Of course, no man is an island, and we all need to have good, loving relationships with our families, and with friends. Some people are lucky, and their parents loved them, disciplined them and taught them to value the things that endure. Others were not so lucky. They have trouble trusting others, since they have been so hurt. Perhaps they can even say they have no friends. This is indeed a troubling situation, and one which needs to be addressed.
Relationship with Community
Since we no longer live in a tribal society, but are part of a democratic country, we all need to be involved in something bigger than our family. We benefit from joining organizations which match our interests, whether that be a church, political party, sports group, a volunteer organization, or any other worthwhile group. Working and playing together, we form bonds of friendship with others, increase our feelings of competency and generosity, and we feel included.
Relationship with our Higher Power
I believe humans have a very real need for a connection to something greater than ourselves. This power is usually described as God, but some people have been hurt in their relationships to religious organizations, so we will use the more neutral term, Higher Power. This is somewhat mysterious to those who do not think about this type of relationship, but I think it is a necessary part of development of one’s greatest gifts.
A Final Word
This is my basic view of mental health. It’s all about how we are connecting to ourselves, to a Higher Power, to friends and family, and to the larger world around us. Sometimes it seems very difficult to manage all these facets of relationship well, but I will be discussing all four aspects of this struggle in my future columns. I certainly welcome your feedback and comments and questions. Let’s have some fun!
Elizabeth Szlek is the Director of The Door Counseling Center of Utica. Questions and comments can be directed to her at (315) 768-8900, or at info@thedoorcounseling.com
Who Are Mental Health Counselors?
Who Are Mental Health Counselors?
By Elizabeth Szlek, LMHC
For The Rome Observer, October 4, 2010
Since a week early in October is generally designated Mental Health Awareness Week, I thought I would take the time to refresh my own memory on the facts of becoming a Mental Health Counselor, or more properly, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor – that’s what those letters after my name above signify!
License or No License- What’s the Difference?
For a quick answer, the difference is tens of thousands of dollars spent on educating oneself, and several years of life! Counselors have only been licensed for five years in New York State, since we were the 48th state to license counselors. Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC’s) have been around for decades in other states, but the iron grip of the other mental health professions, psychiatry, psychology and social work, blocked the admission of counselors to the ranks of the licensed.
Finally, though, reason has prevailed, and at this writing, New York State has thousands of LMHC’s doing all kinds of work across the state. Some counselors work doing assessments, some do psychotherapy, some do treatment planning, some do brief and solution-focused therapy, some work in alcoholism and substance abuse facilities, some are in private practice, others do psycho-educational and prevention programs and crisis management, and others, like me, are Christian counselors. In other words, our training, which is quite extensive, has prepared us to do just about any kind of healing work you can imagine.
By contrast, I always remember the statement of someone who worked in a Domestic Violence shelter for some years. At her own proclamation, she “became” a counselor by doing work with the women in the shelter. Would that it were so easy.
No, the professional counselor holds a 60 credit (as of 2010) Masters degree in counseling, and we have all taken masters-level courses in diagnosis and pathology, group counseling, multicultural counseling, family therapy, counseling theory, theories of personality, testing and assessment, human growth and development, supervised practica and internships, and in my case, the psychology of religion and other courses attuned to the spiritual problems people often develop. THEN, we do a many-month-long supervised internship and finally get our Master’s degree. But wait, there’s more:
After receiving our degree, we need to accomplish 3000 more hours of counseling under supervision. At that point, we can apply for licensure, and if all our ducks are in order , we become licensed! So, no one just “becomes” a counselor in an informal way – it is a highly regulated process, and a true profession.
Comparing Social Workers and Counselors
Of course, there are other mental health professionals who do the same kinds of work counselors do. Psychiatrists are medical doctors, and they are, so far, the only mental health professionals who can prescribe medications. At present, they do very little actual counseling, and receive very little training in this area. Psychiatry today is almost totally dominated by the biological views that deem mental disorders as forms of biological dysfunction, in spite of the fact that no biological markers have been found for ANY mental disorder. They hold to this view, however, with religious fervor, and authorize millions of prescriptions for drugs every year, beginning with patients at age 6 months. I am opposed to this practice, as are many other mental health professionals.
Psychologists are doctors with a Ph.D., not a medical degree. They cannot prescribe drugs, although they are trying to convince various states that they should be able to do this. I think that would be a mistake, and a disaster for those they might put on medications. Many psychologists also do counseling, but they prefer to call it “therapy”, since that sounds more important, somehow.
Then we come to the Masters level mental health workers: Social workers and counselors. Both these professionals have a master’s degree, but the training they get is far from identical. Let’s compare the two for a moment:
Social Workers earn 60 credits for their degree, as do Counselors.
Social Workers have no required clinical education, and have 900 hours of supervised internship. Counselors have many courses in various counseling areas, and have a minimum of 600 hours of supervision. Both professions require an exam for licensure and both are trained in Child Abuse Reporting.
However, when a social worker wishes to receive the designation Clinical Social Worker, they must earn twelve hours of clinical casework, versus the now-60 hours of courses related to counseling. Finally, counselors must acquire 3000 hours of supervised experience in an approved setting to receive their license, and social workers must work for three years and acquire only 960 hour of supervision before getting their licenses.
It seems to me that counselors, with their course work revolving solely around the field of counseling, are much more highly trained in the area of counseling, psychotherapy or therapy, whatever you want to call it, than their supposed peers, social workers.
But, that being said, there is another issue which should be mentioned at this point. Counseling is not a science, but an art. In fact, my degree is a Master of Arts in Counseling. And this is proper. The longer I practice, the more I see that this profession has little to do with science, and EVERYTHING to do with being an artist, in this case, of the soul. Counselors, social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists all deal with problems in living, spiritual problems and problems dealing with finding one’s way in the world. In fact, I have often pointed that psychiatrist is a word meaning “soul doctor”. I think they may have forgotten that fact. So, in reality, how good any mental health professional is depends upon one thing: Can this person connect to their client? Can they understand the movement of the soul, the language of the heart? At the end of everything, this is what needs to be considered, not the degree.
I believe, however, that counselors, with their wealth of training in so many areas of counseling, are far and away the best equipped to handle all kinds of counseling problems. Add to this a strong spiritual base, as in Christian counseling, and you are very likely to find someone who can empathize and bring clients to greater mental and spiritual health.
Elizabeth Szlek is the Director of The Door Counseling Center of Utica. Questions and comments can be directed to her at (315) 768-8900 or at info@thedoorcounseling.com.
By Elizabeth Szlek, LMHC
For The Rome Observer, October 4, 2010
Since a week early in October is generally designated Mental Health Awareness Week, I thought I would take the time to refresh my own memory on the facts of becoming a Mental Health Counselor, or more properly, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor – that’s what those letters after my name above signify!
License or No License- What’s the Difference?
For a quick answer, the difference is tens of thousands of dollars spent on educating oneself, and several years of life! Counselors have only been licensed for five years in New York State, since we were the 48th state to license counselors. Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC’s) have been around for decades in other states, but the iron grip of the other mental health professions, psychiatry, psychology and social work, blocked the admission of counselors to the ranks of the licensed.
Finally, though, reason has prevailed, and at this writing, New York State has thousands of LMHC’s doing all kinds of work across the state. Some counselors work doing assessments, some do psychotherapy, some do treatment planning, some do brief and solution-focused therapy, some work in alcoholism and substance abuse facilities, some are in private practice, others do psycho-educational and prevention programs and crisis management, and others, like me, are Christian counselors. In other words, our training, which is quite extensive, has prepared us to do just about any kind of healing work you can imagine.
By contrast, I always remember the statement of someone who worked in a Domestic Violence shelter for some years. At her own proclamation, she “became” a counselor by doing work with the women in the shelter. Would that it were so easy.
No, the professional counselor holds a 60 credit (as of 2010) Masters degree in counseling, and we have all taken masters-level courses in diagnosis and pathology, group counseling, multicultural counseling, family therapy, counseling theory, theories of personality, testing and assessment, human growth and development, supervised practica and internships, and in my case, the psychology of religion and other courses attuned to the spiritual problems people often develop. THEN, we do a many-month-long supervised internship and finally get our Master’s degree. But wait, there’s more:
After receiving our degree, we need to accomplish 3000 more hours of counseling under supervision. At that point, we can apply for licensure, and if all our ducks are in order , we become licensed! So, no one just “becomes” a counselor in an informal way – it is a highly regulated process, and a true profession.
Comparing Social Workers and Counselors
Of course, there are other mental health professionals who do the same kinds of work counselors do. Psychiatrists are medical doctors, and they are, so far, the only mental health professionals who can prescribe medications. At present, they do very little actual counseling, and receive very little training in this area. Psychiatry today is almost totally dominated by the biological views that deem mental disorders as forms of biological dysfunction, in spite of the fact that no biological markers have been found for ANY mental disorder. They hold to this view, however, with religious fervor, and authorize millions of prescriptions for drugs every year, beginning with patients at age 6 months. I am opposed to this practice, as are many other mental health professionals.
Psychologists are doctors with a Ph.D., not a medical degree. They cannot prescribe drugs, although they are trying to convince various states that they should be able to do this. I think that would be a mistake, and a disaster for those they might put on medications. Many psychologists also do counseling, but they prefer to call it “therapy”, since that sounds more important, somehow.
Then we come to the Masters level mental health workers: Social workers and counselors. Both these professionals have a master’s degree, but the training they get is far from identical. Let’s compare the two for a moment:
Social Workers earn 60 credits for their degree, as do Counselors.
Social Workers have no required clinical education, and have 900 hours of supervised internship. Counselors have many courses in various counseling areas, and have a minimum of 600 hours of supervision. Both professions require an exam for licensure and both are trained in Child Abuse Reporting.
However, when a social worker wishes to receive the designation Clinical Social Worker, they must earn twelve hours of clinical casework, versus the now-60 hours of courses related to counseling. Finally, counselors must acquire 3000 hours of supervised experience in an approved setting to receive their license, and social workers must work for three years and acquire only 960 hour of supervision before getting their licenses.
It seems to me that counselors, with their course work revolving solely around the field of counseling, are much more highly trained in the area of counseling, psychotherapy or therapy, whatever you want to call it, than their supposed peers, social workers.
But, that being said, there is another issue which should be mentioned at this point. Counseling is not a science, but an art. In fact, my degree is a Master of Arts in Counseling. And this is proper. The longer I practice, the more I see that this profession has little to do with science, and EVERYTHING to do with being an artist, in this case, of the soul. Counselors, social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists all deal with problems in living, spiritual problems and problems dealing with finding one’s way in the world. In fact, I have often pointed that psychiatrist is a word meaning “soul doctor”. I think they may have forgotten that fact. So, in reality, how good any mental health professional is depends upon one thing: Can this person connect to their client? Can they understand the movement of the soul, the language of the heart? At the end of everything, this is what needs to be considered, not the degree.
I believe, however, that counselors, with their wealth of training in so many areas of counseling, are far and away the best equipped to handle all kinds of counseling problems. Add to this a strong spiritual base, as in Christian counseling, and you are very likely to find someone who can empathize and bring clients to greater mental and spiritual health.
Elizabeth Szlek is the Director of The Door Counseling Center of Utica. Questions and comments can be directed to her at (315) 768-8900 or at info@thedoorcounseling.com.
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